League of Legends – Champion Guide: Mordekaiser [Guide]

As a metalhead, it has been fun writing this guide since Mordekaiser truly is the Master of Metal in LoL. While not exactly overpowered, Mordekaiser is quite a powerhouse when equipped with the right items and played the right way.

The problem to be considered is Mordekaiser’s true role in a team. He can’t be classified as a full tank since he has no CCs, while Rammus, Shen, and Galio have taunt and Amumu has a massive snare. He is definitely not a mage or a support since he doesn’t have the appropriate skills. He’s not a carry since his attack damage is too low.

Mordekaiser is an off-tank that can be nigh unstoppable once games start to pick up as he does have the HP and overall toughness to soak up damage. He also has enough attack damage to set him above full tanks, while not being a full carry. He falls in the same category as Dr. Mundo, Singed, Sion, and Garen in that they have their own capabilities that make them different from standard tanks. While playing Mordekaiser, take note that you may want to keep attacking to charge up your shield with your passive skill, Iron Man. One moment when your shield is down, that may be the best time for enemies to take you out. In this case, offense really is your best defense.

The build for Mordekaiser should maximize his HP, HP regen, movement speed, magic resistance, armor, and attack damage in that particular order. Perhaps this is best as while Mordekaiser has a lot to offer in the offensive department, his main purpose is still to absorb enemy damage. While this is clear, there are nearly hundreds of different configurations to this build that many consider to be effective. What this guide aims to do is to help one gain more understanding and create a more optimized build for this champion.

The best team to fit Mordekaiser in is that composed of one or two carries, one support, and one mage in the team. This champion works best in a balanced team, wherein he can do his job best in protecting them from enemy damage. But if you’re up against a Mordekaiser player, take note that his abilities charge up his shield, which makes him even tougher over time. If you want to gank him, do it early and focus fire on him to take him down. Keep distance and stay away from minions since he’ll be using Siphon of Destruction on them.

His ultimate skill, the Children of the Grave, can turn an unfortunate victim into Mordekaiser’s puppet if he is killed by it. If you somehow were able to do this, you can control that pet by holding down the alt key and using the right mouse button to command it. Other than for damaging enemies, this ultimate skill can be used defensively due to its lifesteal. If you’re a bit red and you have to heal up fast, this can be used in such tight spots. You’ll need to pay close attention to who has Flash since you are sort of a soft counter to that spell with Ignite and Children of the Grave being effective even after that guy flashes away due to the lingering damage.

Mordekaiser is quite a good farmer and pusher due to Mace of Spades and Siphon of Destruction. Use the extra gold to buy potions and elixers to increase survivability and counter stealth champions, letting you become even more useful as a result. The armor and magic resistance boost from Creeping Death actually helps boost your shield, making Creeping Death such a good skill. With the right items and these abilities combined, you’ll be nearly impossible to kill.

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Abilities

Iron Man – A percent of the damage dealt from abilities is converted into a temporary shield, absorbing incoming damage.
As long as you’re attacking something, you’ll have shields. This means that if survivability is your thing, you should attack and not just hang out by the tower while your left hand keeps reaching for Doritos, you big fat slob. Take advantage of this passive skill at all times.

Mace of Spades – On next hit, Mordekaiser swings his mace with such force that it echoes out, striking up to 3 additional nearby targets, dealing damage plus bonus damage. If the target is alone, the attack deals extra damage.
This is what helps you farm for those big items, which is crucial in your role as an off-tank. A fundamental skill for Mordekaiser, this is what you’ll be using to dish out most of the damage, letting you soften up targets for your team to finish off.

Creeping Death – Unleashes a protective cloud of metal shards to surround an ally, increasing their armor and magic resistance and dealing damage per second to enemies in the cloud.
Mordekaiser’s bread and butter is this particular ability. Being able to increase armor and MR for yourself or a teammate can become valuable in dire times, letting your team last longer in the most chaotic situations. Practice with this constantly.

Siphon of Destruction – Mordekaiser deals damage to enemies in a cone in front of him. For each unit hit, Mordekaiser’s shield absorbs energy.
It is a good idea to use this in conjunction with other abilities to keep delivering the pain in team clashes. If your team does well and you’re doing your part, you’ll see your assists go up.

Children of the Grave – Mordekaiser curses an enemy, stealing a percent of their life initially and each second. If the target dies while the spell is active, their soul is enslaved and will follow Mordekaiser for 30 seconds.
This is quite a unique and fun skill to use, especially if the target is about to die. Can be used defensively as well due to the lifesteal effect. Due to the lingering damage effect, it’s great to combo with Ignite, making it extra painful. The puppet can help you distract and push as well.

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Spells

Ignite – This is a great combo with your ultimate skill, Children of the Grave. Keep in mind of how much damage this combo does since it’s your most effective way to kill enemies. Only use it if you can actually kill the target.

Ghost – This is a very good spell for Mordekaiser as he does need to move in and out pretty quickly. For both chasing and escaping, you’ll love this.

Teleport – There is no better way to save a turret or ally than with this spell in your arsenal. Very effective for map control, but you may not need it if you have high movement speed.

Exhaust – If you can’t get Ignite, you may get this one since Mordekaiser doesn’t have a CC. But then again, you may be getting Rylai’s Crystal Scepter anyway.

Flash – This is fun, but it’s not that important for Mordekaiser. Save that one slot for something else since this spell is more effective for other champions.

Clarity – You may not need this as much as others do. There aren’t a lot of debuffs and CCs that can help kill you. In fact, if they debuff or CC you, they are absolute idiots for wasting it on you.

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Items

Doran’s Shield – There’s no doubt that this is the very first item you have to get during the start of a game. You need the defense boosts, no questions asked.

Warmog’s Armor – While this isn’t that good of an item by itself, it seems to be great for Mordekaiser. This is a great item for boosting your health and defenses so you won’t get burned down too quickly during fights, surviving the toughest of storms during the early and mid game.

Aegis of the Legion – The buffs from Aegis of the Legion stack, so it won’t hurt for you to get it as well if a teammate already has one. It would be great to lane with that teammate to take advantage of the double buff since Aegis is such a good item. Especially useful if there’s Fiddlesticks in the opposing team due to his passive skill.

Thornmail – An intuitive choice for those who tower dive a lot. Physical damage is definitely more of a concern here than magic damage.

Sunfire Cape – About the same reasons as you’d have with Thornmail for getting this, although this delivers magic damage. If the enemy team is stacking up on magic resistance, forget this.

Frozen Mallet – Good addition during the late game. If you don’t have one yet, you can keep getting Lizard buff since that seems to work pretty well with Mordekaiser.

Rylai’s Crystal Scepter – This gives you that ability to slow opponents down, which doesn’t hurt your team’s chances of winning at all. The boosts are also great with +500 HP and +80 AP, making this item a solid addition to your inventory.

Force of Nature – Maybe a bit overkill since you’d have enough magic resist, movespeed, and regen without it.

Abyssal Scepter / Haunting Guise – Good idea to get them if enemy champions are stacking on magic resistance. It’s quite rare to be in such situations though and you’ll be doing enough damage without them anyway. You’ll be able to farm quick enough to get better items later on.

Hexdrinker – Perhaps a good addition as it gives a balanced boost to attack and defense.